English vocabulary note week 12

1.       devote

Definition: dedicate, give, offer

For example: He is determined to devote his life to science.

2.       digest

Definition: publication, journal, magazine

For example: Humans cannot digest plants such as grass.

3.       distinct

Definition: separate, different, dissimilar

For example: The lighthouse beam was quite distinct in the gathering dusk.

4.       enable

Definition: allow, permit, empower

For example: Only teamwork will enable us to get the job done on time.

5.       jaw

Definition: jowl, mouth, chin

For example: Patsy had to clench her jaw to suppress her anger.

6.       mate

Definition: friend, pal, buddy

For example: Kathy is a great mate, we are like sisters.

7.       nutritional

Definition: of or relating to or providing nutrition

For example: A diet lacking in nutritional value will not keep a person healthy.

8.       profound

Definition: deep, thoughtful, reflective

For example: It's a quite profound story, with powerful religious overtones.

9.       shift

Definition: change, move, swing

For example: The night shift should have been safely down the mine long ago.

10.  approach

Definition: method, tactic, line

For example: At their approach the little boy scurried away and hid.

11.  coat

Definition: fur, wool, fleece

For example: The front door needs a new coat of paint.

12.  enhance

Definition: increase, improve, augment

For example: The forest will enhance the attractiveness of the region.

13.  flame

Definition: blaze, flare, spark

For example: The water was heated by a naked gas flame.

14.  gather

Definition: fold, pleat, pucker

For example: I gather his report is highly critical of the trial judge.

15.  pityingly

Definition: in a compassionate manner

For example: The nurse looked at him pityingly.

16.  scent

Definition: a distinctive odor that is pleasant

For example: Scent your drawers and wardrobe with your favorite aromas.

17.  slide

Definition: photo, shot, glide

For example: The company had let environmental standards slide.

18.  stay

Definition: continuing or remaining in a place or state

For example: Mommy, you don't need to stay while we talk.

19.  stem

Definition: twig, branch, stop

For example: He chewed the stem of his pipe and eyed her skeptically.

20.  stroke

Definition: hit, blow, knock

For example: I never did a stroke of work at college.

21.  terrace

Definition: walkaway, porch, patio

For example: There is an inviting restaurant with an outdoor terrace.

22. thrill

Definition: delight, ecstasy, joy

For example: The thrill wears off after a few years of marriage.

23.  antique

Definition: old, traditional, aged

For example: Windsor Castle is quite literally an antique treasure trove.

24.  captivating

Definition: charming, attractive, appealing

For example: He found her captivating.

25.  circuit

Definition: tour, trip, journey

For example: The fire was started by an electrical short-circuit.

English vocabulary note week 11

1.       setting

Definition: location, scenery, situation

For example: You can boil the fish fillets on a high setting.

2.       standard

Definition: normal, typical, average

For example: It carried off the Evening Standard drama award for best play.

3.       strength

Definition: forte, asset, gift

For example: I didn't know Ron had that much strength of character.

4.       chip

Definition: mark, damage, flaw

For example: The washbasin had a small chip.

5.       decipher

Definition: interpret, translate, read

For example: It is a headache to decipher his sloppy penmanship.

6.       eliminate

Definition: terminate, end, or take out

For example: You could never eliminate risk, but preparation and training could attenuate it.

7.       fragile

Definition: delicate, brittle, breakable

For example: She was small and fragile and looked incongruous in an army uniform.

8.       freak

Definition: curiously, rarity, oddity

For example: A freak wave had buckled the deck.

9.       overflow

Definition: excess, runoff, extra

For example: The overflow from the bath ran on to the floor.

10.  provision

Definition: delivery, facility, running

For example: This provision gives the president total and unchecked power.

11.  qualify

Definition: prove capable or fit; meet requirements

For example: I would qualify that by putting it into context.

12.  reunite

Definition: have a reunion; unite again

For example: The band will reunite for this show only.

13.  rigid

Definition: inflexible, stiff, firm

For example: Andrew went rigid when he saw a dog, any dog, anywhere.

14.  segment

Definition: section, part, piece

For example: Give me a segment of a tangerine to taste.

15.  trail

Definition: track, trace, path

For example: When entering a trail or starting a descent, yield to other skiers.

16.  unison

Definition: corresponding exactly

For example: When entering a trail or starting a descent, yield to other skiers.

17.  companionship

Definition: the state of being with someone

For example: She found the companionship of Marcia a solace.

18.  dragging

Definition: slow, tedious, tiresome

For example: They disapproved of my dragging in his wealth.

19.  evaporate

Definition: vanish, fade, disappear

For example: Blasting cold air over it makes the water evaporate.

20.  insult

Definition: abuse, offence, rudeness

For example: He was still steaming over the insult he had received.

21.  allowance

Definition: payment, grant, stipend

For example: The personal allowance depends on your age and marital status.

22.  object

Definition:thing, article, item

For example: He made it his object in life to find the island.

23.  opponent

Definition: adversary, enemy, rival

For example: Her opponent called her a liar to her face.

24.  pastime

Definition: activity, pursuit, amusement

For example: Baseball is the national pastime.

25. agreement

Definition: contract, arrangement, covenant

For example: By agreement, this is the point where a new day begins.

English vocabulary note week 10

1.       predator

Definition: killer, slayer, hunter

For example: The terror bird was the top predator in its ancestral home.

2.       reproduce

Definition: copy, replicate, duplicate

For example: He is not attempting necessarily to reproduce the cadence of speech.

3.       shelter

Definition: housing, lodging, accommodation

For example: When it rained I rigged up a partial shelter with a tarpaulin.

4.       shelf

Definition: ledge, sill, bookshelf

For example: The house stands on a shelf of rock among pines.

5.       striped

Definition: barred, banded, lined

For example: He was faultlessly attired in black coat and striped trousers.

6.       tail

Definition: end, conclusion, extremely

For example: Don't go near that lashing tail.

7.       bribe

Definition: inducement, enticement, carrot

For example: The judge rejected a bribe from the defendant's family.

8.       essential

Definition: vital, indispensable, important

For example: "Aromatherapy oils" are not pure essential oils but dilutions.

9.       ethics

Definition: morals, beliefs, integrities

For example: It is common to distinguish between personal and social ethics.

10.  expertise

Definition: skill, knowledge, proficiency

For example: Expertise in this field is very thinly spread across the country.

11.  found

Definition: originate, create, start

For example: He found evidence of mutated forms of the gene.

12.  innovation

Definition: novelty, invention, revolution

For example: Capitalism stresses innovation, competition and individualism.

13.  mission

Definition: assignment, task, job, work

For example: I was heading on a secret mission that made my flesh crawl.

14.  operation

Definition: process, action, procedure

For example: The air rescue operation has now been scaled down.

15.  potential

Definition: possible, latent, probable

For example: Many West Germans are anxious about the potential cost of unification.

16.  refuse

Definition: waste, garbage, reject, snub

For example: I refuse to act that way when my kids fight.

17.  turnover

Definition: income, revenue, incomings

For example: The industry has a high turnover of young people.

18.  unstable

Definition: unbalanced, uneven, unhinged

For example: Both clay and sandstone are unstable rock formations.

19.  willingness

Definition: readiness, inclination, will

For example: I had to prove my willingness to work hard and accept the university's authority.

20.  awareness

Definition: consciousness, mindfulness, cognizance

For example: The 1980s brought an awareness of green issues.

21.  brand

Definition: make, product, variety

For example: Brand's keen ear caught the trace of an accent.

22.  catch

Definition: fastening, fastener, clasp

For example: He missed the catch and the match was lost.

23.  disregard

Definition: disrespect, indifference, contempt

For example: He showed a reckless disregard for his own safety.

24.  likewise

Definition: similarity, equality, also

For example: Likewise directories themselves you should be able to annotate.

25.  method

Definition: technique, way, process

For example: Some thought must be given to the method of validation.

English vocabulary note week 9

1.       exceptional

Definition: excellent, brilliant, special

For example: Their technical ability is exceptional.

2.       exhibit

Definition: display, show, parade

For example: The exhibit will be open through February, 2004.

3.       hardly

Definition: barely, scarcely

For example: My eyes were so swollen I could hardly see.

4.       access

Definition: admission, entrée, contact

For example: The home is situated within easy access of shops and other facilities.

5.       individual

Definition: separate, discrete, distinct

For example: This was a matter for decision by the individual.

6.       minimize

Definition: diminish, curtail, lesson

For example: Click the square icon again to minimize the window.

7.       obsessively

Definition: fanatically, compulsively, zealously

For example: He's rude to her friends and obsessively jealous.

8.       strive

Definition: struggle, endeavor, attempt

For example: Don't strive merely for quantity of production.

9.       toddler

Definition: preschool, infant, nursery

For example: The toddler pointed to the toy he wanted.

10.  cub

Definition: novice, beginner, learner

For example: A Piper Cub was chartered to fly.

11.  enchanted

Definition: charmed, enthralled, captivated

For example: She was enchanted by the flowers you sent her.    

12.  endangered

Definition: rare, scarce, threatening

For example: These endangered gentle giants are highly social animals.

13.  exotic

Definition: unusual, striking, interesting

For example: He sent a basket of exotic fruit and a card.

14.  hybrid

Definition: cross, mixture, mix

For example: A mule is a hybrid of a male donkey and a female horse.

15.  itch

Definition: desire, wish, longing

For example: Scratch my back—I've got an itch.

16. offspring

Definition: descendant, progeny, children

For example: Of course, not all alcoholics and drug abusers produce deviant offspring.

17.  soul

Definition: depth, personality, atmosphere

For example: The Greeks accepted belief in the immortality of the soul.

18.  technique

Definition: method, system, practice

For example: The new technique has been used to identify the sex of foetuses. 

19.  astonishing

Definition: amazing, surprising, shocking

For example: He can perform an astonishing variety of acts, including mime and juggling.

20.  classification

Definition: organization, cataloging, arrangement

For example: These things belong in a different classification.

21.  concept

Definition: idea, notion, thought

For example: The concept of the Rose continued to inform the poet's work.

22.  dizzying

Definition: faint, amazing

For example: We're descending now at dizzying speed.

23.  interactive

Definition: communicating, collaborating, cooperating

For example: This will make video games more interactive than ever.

24.  maintain

Definition: uphold, preserve, keep

For example: She could not maintain her balance and moved in a wobbly fashion. 

25.  organism

Definition: creature, animal, plant, virus

For example: The amoeba is a very simple organism.